Photographic Tour of Mission Trail Nature Preserve Maintenance Work: Week of June 2-6, 2008

ABSTRACT: During the week of June 2-6, 2008, contract workers were in Mission Trail Nature Preserve doing maintenance work on Serra Trail. Photos documenting their maintenance work are shown. Selected, relevant excerpts from the City’s General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan regarding Mission Trail Nature Preserve are presented as REFERENCES. A COMMENT is made regarding maintenance and implementing the City’s General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan.

Dangerous dead Monterey Pine branch hanging precariously over Mission Trail Nature Preserve (MTNP) Pedestrian Bridge near Mountain View Av. Entrance

Two workers with equipment removing dangerous Monterey Pine branch over MTNP Pedestrian Bridge

Dangerous Monterey Pine branch after removal

View of MTNP Pedestrian Bridge after dangerous Monterey Pine branch removal

Serra Trail blocked off at northern end; Chipper to left

Debris at side of Serra Trail

Workers adding branches to chipper on Serra Trail

Ladders used for tree pruning

Serra Trail blocked off at southern end

CREW AND EQUIPMETN WORKING Sign at southern end

Stump of recently cut Monterey Pine tree along Serra Trail

View of cleared area of fallen tree onto Serra Trail and cut logs

View of thick carpet of non-native invasive plants in MTNP; ivy and poison oak remain throughout MTNP.

REFERENCES:
Selected, relevant excerpts from the General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan regarding Mission Trail Nature Preserve.

General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan Coastal Resource Management Element

Environmental Setting

Residential development occurs on almost all land in the city, except for seven parks, several mini-parks, a compact centralized commercial area and some privately owned parcels in Pescadero Canyon. Approximately 68 acres of public open space and approximately 10 acres of privately owned undeveloped land are under the City’s jurisdiction. Most of the parks in the City are developed to support passive and active recreational activities. Of the City’s public lands, Carmel Beach, Mission Trail Nature Preserve, and the proposed Rio Park (outside City boundaries), support the most intact and highest quality natural resources.

Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas
In addition to the urbanized Monterey pine forest, the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea has other environmentally sensitive habitats including wetlands, riparian forest, wet meadow, and coastal terrace prairie. In 1995, the City completed a detailed study of environmentally sensitive habitat areas (ESHAs) (Jones & Stokes, 1995), which includes specific recommendations for City policies and practices. Relevant policies and recommendations derived from this document are incorporated into this section of the Land Use Plan. Figure 5.3 shows a map of the currently designated ESHA’s. The location and types of ESHAs found in Carmel include:

Mission Trail Nature Preserve supports Monterey pine forest; central coast arroyo willow riparian forest along wetland drainages; coastal terrace prairie; wet meadow; and known occurrences of special-status plant and wildlife species, including Hickman’s onion, and Monterey dusky footed woodrat, which are state and/or federal species of special concern, as well as potential habitats for other special-status species. (LUP)

Mission Trail Nature Preserve
Mission Trail Nature Preserve lies along much of the City's eastern boundary and is the largest ESHA in the City. It contains a wide variety of habitat types. To describe this area the Preserve is divided into four planning units: Martin Road Parcel, Park Proper, Flanders Mansion/Rowntree Native Plant Garden and Outlet Meadow. The Preserve supports a vegetation mosaic consisting of Monterey pine forest on inland granitic bedrock and oldest dunes, central coast arroyo willow riparian forest, wetland drainage, wet meadow, coast live oak woodland, coastal terrace prairie and horticultural plantings. (LUP)

Martin Road Parcel supports coastal terrace prairie and a population of Hickman’s Onion (a federal species of concern).

Park Proper supports Monterey pine forest on inland granitic bedrock and oldest dunes, central coast arroyo willow riparian forest, wetland drainage, Cottonwoods and coast live oak woodland that is suitable habitat for Monterey dusky-footed woodrat, a federal and state species of special concern.

Flanders Mansion/Rowntree Native Plant Garden supports Monterey pine forest on inland granitic bedrock with horticultural plantings.

Outlet Meadow supports central coast arroyo willow riparian forest, wetland drainage, wet meadow, coastal terrace prairie, and Coast Live oak woodland. (LUP)

Management guidelines for Mission Trail Nature Preserve should be implemented that respond to the following issues of habitat quality and enhancement and control of invasive vegetation:

Reduce erosion and loss of native coastal terrace prairie vegetation

Enhance the habitat value of the coastal terrace prairie

Monitor and protect the Hickman's onion population

Maintain and enhance habitat for the Monterey dusky-footed woodrat

Prohibit removal of native vegetation from riparian forest habitat

Reduce the introduction and spread of invasive horticultural species

Survey for special status plants periodically and manage as appropriate. (LUP)

Goals, Objectives and Policies
Urban Forests, Parks and Open Spaces
O5-21 Optimize public use of City parks. (LUP)

P5-105 Implement the recommendations of all existing Master Plans considering prioritized needs and available funding:
a. Mission Trail Nature Preserve Master Plan

Mission Trail Nature Preserve
G5-8 Preserve the forested tranquil atmosphere of Mission Trail Nature Preserve. (LUP)

O5-25 Preserve and enhance the vegetative diversity in Mission Trail Nature
Preserve consisting of Monterey pine forest, central coast willow riparian forest, wet meadow, coast live oak woodland, redwood, box elder, cottonwood, coastal terrace prairie and horticultural plantings. (LUP)

P5-119 Remove by hand nonnative shrubs and their roots invading these areas during late spring when soils are moist and before seed/seed pods become viable. (LUP)

O5-27 Reduce the introduction and population of invasive horticultural species in the Preserve. (LUP)

P5-122 Organize volunteer work groups to remove non-native plants from the Preserve. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection crews from Gabilan Camp could be used to assist in this effort. (LUP)

G5-9 Protect, maintain and enhance the rare coastal habitats and associated plants and animals within Mission Trail Nature Preserve. (LUP)

O5-28 Prepare annual maintenance plans for habitats within the Preserve. Encourage native vegetation to re-establish on sites previously mowed, cut, or invaded by exotic species. (LUP)

P5-124 Consider removal of both intentionally introduced plants and invasives by instituting an annual program through joint efforts of contract workers and volunteers. (LUP)

G5-10 To preserve the natural drainage of Mission Trail Nature Preserve and enhance wetlands. (LUP)

O5-31 Maintain natural drainage patterns except where erosion or human safety problems may be created. Maintain the existing creek bed and preclude it from becoming debris clogged. Encourage/allow the channelized ditch to revert to a more natural channel in order to enhance the Preserve’s wetlands (riparian forest, wet meadow) and natural character. (LUP)

P5-131 Remove fallen trees and limbs from the stream channels as needed. Place natural boulders and creek cobbles to prevent erosion only in situations where private property or public safety is at risk. (LUP)

P5-132 Repair stream bank deterioration as it occurs, and remove inert debris and new growth to the extent that they prohibit water flow within the established channel. Projects of this nature shall be reviewed by the Forest and Beach Commission, similar to its review of street projects. (LUP)

P5-137 Clean and grade road shoulders and maintain culverts at least twice yearly, to insure continuous drainage. The Forest and Beach Department will trim vegetation to the extent necessary to allow access by the City maintenance equipment and fire apparatus. (LUP)

O5-33 Maintain the Rowntree Native Plant Garden within Mission Trail Nature Preserve as an area where the general public can view and study native California plants and trees. The goal is that the knowledge gained will lead to an expanded use of California native plants in private landscapes. (LUP)

G5-11 Maintain Mission Trail Nature Preserve using great care to avoid degradation of resources. (LUP)

O5-35 Implement the Mission Trail Nature Preserve Master Plan maintenance provisions. (LUP)

P5-149 Repair stream bank deterioration as it occurs, and remove inert debris and new growth to the extent that they prohibit water flow within the established channel. (Annually: September - October.) (LUP)

P5-150 Clean and grade road shoulders and maintain culverts to ensure continuous drainage. Trim vegetation to the extent necessary to allow access of equipment (Annually: September - October.) (LUP)

P5-151 Remove fallen limbs and trees from stream channels (As needed.) (LUP)

P5-153 Mow meadow grasses to reduce the risk of fire (June.) if consistent with special status plant management needs. (LUP)

P5-154 Maintain the Serra Trail to allow access of emergency vehicles (Semiannually.) (LUP)

P5-155 Remove dead/hazardous trees only as needed. Leave dead trunks in place when not hazardous to provide habitat for woodpeckers and other fauna. (LUP)

P5-156 Conduct trail maintenance and clearance (June - August.) (LUP)

Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas
G5-12 Identify, protect and manage Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas (ESHAs) to ensure their long-term integrity and the biological productivity of these habitats. (LUP)

O5-38 Manage environmentally sensitive habitats in Mission Trail Nature Preserve to maintain and enhance their natural integrity. Preserve and protect Mission Trail Nature Preserve native plant, wild animal and bird populations. (LUP)

General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan Open Space, Conservation & Scenic Highways Element

Supporting Information
Open Space
Forestry Management Plan. This Plan establishes criteria for the preservation of the health of all of the City owned trees and foliage within Carmel and specifies techniques for cutting, planting and other aspects of a proper maintenance schedule. Part of this plan is the continuous inventory of all trees, including those on private property. The inventory illustrates that despite the development which has occurred in Carmel over this past decade (1976-86) the supply of trees has not been adversely affected, but has been improved with younger, more vigorous members of the same species. As noted in the Forestry Management Plan, the City Forestry Department plants on an average of over five hundred trees per year.

Table 7.1: Carmel-by-the-Sea Recreation Facilities/Open Space
Facility Acreage Facilities/Use Zoning Designation
Mission Trail Park/Arboretum 35.0 Nature walks, jogging, picnicking, bicycling P-1

Note:
P-1 = To preserve publicly owned park and beach lands for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations, and to prevent the destruction of natural open spaces.

Urban Forest. Although Carmel has no commercial forests, the urban forest, for which Carmel-by-the-Sea is noted, is a valuable resource and should be protected, preserved and enhanced. To this end, the Guide to the Management of Carmel's Forest, Beaches, and Parks (1981), provides specific direction and guidelines for the maintenance and enhancement of this valuable resource. Due to the complex nature of the Plan and the extensive continuous inventory and updating, the Plan should be consulted for specific policies relating to Carmel's urban forest. Several portions of the Plan were cited under Open Space discussions and should serve as a foundation for future action.

COMMENT:
• Hopefully, the maintenance work done this past week was the beginning of a regular maintenance program after years and years of minimal maintenance and not fully implementing the City’s General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan Coastal Resource Management Element and General Plan/Coastal Land Use Plan Open Space, Conservation & Scenic Highways Element as it pertains to Mission Trail Nature Preserve, a unique and special open space in the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea.